Reinforcing member for building and construction and reinforced structure using the reinforcing member

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a reinforcing member for a building and a construction, which reinforces a structural member in a building and a construction, and reinforced structure using the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member comprises an attaching metal member to a structural member, an energy absorber, and a surface metal member. The energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, and integrated with those metal members. Further, the present invention relates to a reinforced structure having a vibration-proofing performance and an earthquake resistance, which comprise the reinforcing member bridged and installed on a joint portion between a post structural member and an another structural member connected to the post structural member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reinforcing member for a building and a construction which is used to be bridged between a post structural member and a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member connected to the post structural member in a wooden building or a steel-frame building, and a reinforced structure of a building and a construction having vibration-proofing properties and earthquake resistance using the reinforcing member.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, the necessity of vibration-proofing properties and earthquake resistance in a wooden building and a steel-frame building is increasingly deeply understood and well attracts attention. In the present invention, the wooden building is used in the sense including a wooden building or a wooden construction. The steel-frame construction is used in the sense including a light gauge steel-frame building and a heavy gauge steel-frame construction.

Widely known examples of a conventional reinforced structure to reinforce a wooden building and a steel-frame construction include a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member such as a diagonal bracing structure or a bracing structure built between structural members such as posts, stubs, groundsills, beams, and girths in a wooden post & beam building or between structural members such as square timbers in a wood-frame construction, and a such as a ridge-frame structure or bracing structure arranged between structural members such as posts or beams in a steel-frame construction.

The reinforced structure such as the ridge-frame structure or the bracing structure is improved in earthquake resistance or vibration-proofing property in comparison with a building or a construction having a structure which does not constitute the reinforced structure. As a reinforced structure to reinforce a building and construction, a reinforced structure to improve earthquake resistance by using a damping structure is known by, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 2003-96911 and 2003-20729.

The reinforced structures disclosed in JP-A-2003-96911 and JP-A-2003-20729 each have such a constitution that, at a corner portion constituted by one structural member (structural member A) and the other structural member (structural member B), a reinforcing member made of spring steel is bridged and fixed on the way from a part of the structural member A to a part of the other structural member B. The reinforced structure described in JP-A-2003-20729 is obtained by attaching a synthetic resin foam being in a compression state is in a space portion constituted by the structural member A, the structural member B, and the reinforcing member made of spring steel.

For example, International Publication WO 2004/051015 discloses a reinforcing member installed in a connection formed by two structural members in a building or construction. The reinforcing member has a damping structure having high earthquake resistance, achieves a damping effect in accordance with deformation of the connection, and achieves a restorative force to restore an angle of the connection to a normal position.

JP-A-8-312008 discloses a metal plinth fitting having a structure obtained by forming a locking claw on one metal planar fitting for fastening a groundsill to a post member standing on the groundsill.

The conventional reinforced structures disclosed in JP-A-2003-96911 and JP-A-2003-20729 each employ a scheme in which, at a corner portion formed between one structural member and the other structural member (for example, a post member and a beam or a post member and a groundsill), a reinforcing member is bridged between one structural member and the other structural member. In the reinforced structure, a reinforcing action is not sufficiently achieved when bending strain increases. In a wooden building, since a wooden part itself is not stronger than an attaching member, the wooden part may be broken. That is, the reinforced structure is considerably affected by performance such as the bending strength of the post member or the strength of the attaching member.

The present invention provides a reinforcing member and a reinforced structure based on an idea absolutely different from those of the conventional reinforcing member and reinforced structure. That is, as the reinforcing member is directly fixed to the structural member in a building and a construction, the reinforcing member and the reinforced structure can absorb and damp a tensile shearing force and extension force of a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member, and also can absorb bending strain, as well as preventing damage to the structural member by sliding a high-damping rubber serving as an energy absorber constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention when a certain amount of external force acts, without considerably affected by performance such as the bending strength of a post structural member or the strength of the structural member fixed portion of the reinforcing member.

The present invention relates to a reinforcing member to reinforce a structural member in a building and a construction, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing member which can absorb and damp a tensile shearing force or extension force acting on a joint portion between a post structural member and a horizontal structural member (beam or girder) or between the post structural member and a groundsill and can also absorb bending strain.

The present invention has as its object to provide a reinforcing member for a building and a construction, constituted by an attaching metal member for a structural member of the building and the construction and a surface metal member having a fixing portion to the structural member and an energy absorber, the energy absorber being held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrated with these metal members.

The present invention has as its object to provide a reinforced structure of a building and a construction, in which the reinforcing member having the above configuration is installed to be bridged between a post structural member and a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member connected to the post structural member of the building and the construction.

The present invention has as its object to provide a reinforced structure of a building and a construction, having a configuration in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is fixed to a post structural member and another structural member connected to the post structural member, and a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is bridged between the post structural member and a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member connected to the post structural member and fixed to the another structural member connected to the post structural member at a fixing portion of the surface metal member.

Furthermore, the present invention has as its object to provide a reinforced structure of a building and a construction, in which the reinforcing member according to the present invention comprising an attaching metal member to the structural member, a surface metal member, and an energy absorber, which is held integrally between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, is installed to be bridged among an upper framework of a wall framework, a floor framework, and a lower framework, between the framework and a groundsill, or among the framework, the floor framework, and the groundsill in a building or a construction built by the two-by-four method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reinforcing member which is bridged between a post structural member and a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member (so-called horizontal member, such as a beam or a girder, or groundsill) in a building and a construction, including an attaching metal member (may be simply referred to as “attaching metal member” hereinafter) to a structural member of the building and the construction, and a surface metal member (may be simply referred to as “surface metal member” hereinafter) having a fixing portion to the structural member and an energy absorber, which is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrally joined to these metal members.

The present invention relates to a reinforced structure of a building and a construction, in which the reinforcing member having the above configuration is installed to be bridged between a post structural member in the building and the constructions and a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member connected to the post structural member.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a reinforced structure of a two-by-four building and a two-by-four construction which is installed to be bridged among an upper framework of a wall framework, a floor framework, and a lower framework or among a framework, a floor framework, and a groundsill in a building and a construction built by the two-by-four method.

More specifically, (1) the present invention relates to a reinforcing member which reinforces a structural member in a building and a construction, wherein the reinforcing member includes an attaching metal member to the structural member of the building and the construction and a surface metal member having a fixing portion to the structural member and an energy absorber, and the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrated with these metal members.

(2) In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, the energy absorber is one selected from a high-damping rubber and a viscoelastic thermoplastic resin having an equivalent damping factor (Heq) of 10 to 60% and a modulus of transverse elasticity (G) of 0.05 to 2.0 N/mm².

(3) In the surface metal member in the reinforcing member according to the present invention, the fixing portion to the structural member is formed in a part in which the attaching metal member and the energy absorber are not present.

(4) The attaching metal member to the structural member in the reinforcing member according to the present invention, wherein a planar shape or a shape of a section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction is U-shaped.

(5) In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, the attaching metal member and the surface metal member are divided into at least two parts, one of the divided attaching metal members is arranged to connect two surface metal members, and a continuous energy absorber is held between the surface metal member and the attaching metal member and integrated with the metal members.

(6) The surf ace metal member in the reinforcing member according to the present invention is of a T-shaped type, an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), an L-shaped type, a crucial type, and a V-shaped type, or has an L-shaped vertical section.

(7) In the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped type of the surface metal member of the T-shaped type in the reinforcing member according to the present invention, right and left overhang portions are formed near the another structural member connected to the post structural member in parallel to the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped type.

(8) In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, a projection pin is formed near one edge portion of the surface of the attaching metal member to the post structural member, a penetrating opening is formed in the surface metal member near an edge portion corresponding to the projection pin, the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, and the projection pin is inserted into the opening of the surface metal member and integrated with the surface metal member.

(9) A plurality of locking claws are formed on a fixing portion to the structural member of the surface metal member in the reinforcing member.

(10) Furthermore, the present invention relates to a reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein the reinforcing member, in which the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrated with these metal members, is installed and bridged between the post structural member of the building and the construction and the joint portion of the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member.

(11) The reinforced structure according to the present invention, wherein, in a reinforcing member in which an energy absorber is held between and integrated with an attaching metal member to the structural member and a surface metal member, the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is fixed to a post structural member and/or another structural member connected to the post structural member, and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is bridged between the post structural member and a joint portion of the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member to be fixed to the post structural member or another structural member connected to the post structural member at the fixing portion of the surface metal member.

(12) The reinforced structure has a configuration in which the attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts, one of the divided attaching metal members is attached to the another structural member connected to the post structural member while the other of the attaching metal members is attached to the post structural member, and one of the divided surface metal portions is bridged between the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member and fixed to the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member at a fixing portion formed on the surface metal member.

(13) In the reinforced structure, one of the divided surface metal members is arranged to be bridged between the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member and fixed to the post structural member or the another structural member connected to the post structural member through an auxiliary metal member at the fixing portion of the surface metal member.

(14) In the reinforced structure, the surface metal member is one type selected from a T-shaped type, an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), an L-shaped type, a crucial type, and a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), or has an L-shaped vertical section, and uses a reinforcing member having a configuration in which the attaching metal member is a planar metal member.

(15) In the reinforced structure, the reinforcing member, in which the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is T-shaped type and an attaching metal member is planar, is arranged to a joint portion bridged between a post structural member and a beam.

(16) The present invention relates to a reinforced structure having a configuration in which a surface metal member constituting a reinforcing member is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is fixed to a post structural member, a forked portion of the V-shaped surface metal member forms a fixing portion to another structural member to bridge the fixed portion between the post structural member and the another structural member (beam and grinder or groundsill) connected to the post structural member, a spacer is arranged on the fixing portion between the forked portion of the surface metal member and the another structural member, a plate-like L angle (L-shaped metal plate) is arranged at a corner portion on a side facing a joint portion of the another structural member connected to the post structural member and the post structural member, and the spacer and the L angle are fixed to the another structural member connected to the post structural member together with the fixing portion of the surface metal member.

(17) The present invention relates to a reinforced structure having a configuration in which an attaching metal member and a surface metal member which constitute the reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts, one of the divided attaching metal members is attached to the post structural member while the other is attached to another structural member connected to the post structural member, and one of the divided surface metal members constituting the reinforcing member is bridged between the post structural member and a groundsill serving as the other structural member connected to the post structural member, wherein a plate-like auxiliary metal member is arranged between the groundsill and a base, one side of the auxiliary metal member is fixed to the base, and the other side is connected to the fixing portion of the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member.

(18) The present invention relates to a reinforced structure having a configuration in which a reinforcing member is arranged such that an attaching metal member and a surface metal member which constitute the reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts, the surface metal member being of a T-shaped type, a latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member is arranged on a groundsill serving as another structural member connected to a post structural member, and the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion is bridged between the post structural member and the groundsill, wherein a plate-like auxiliary metal member having a Z-shaped section is used, and one side of metal member having the Z-shaped section is inserted between the groundsill and a base, while the other side is located at a position corresponding to the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member of the reinforcing member on an upper surface side of the groundsill and installed on the groundsill.

(19) Furthermore, the present invention related to a reinforced structure constituted such that a reinforcing member in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is of one of an I-shaped type (strip shape) and a T-shaped type, an attaching metal member has a planar shape, and an energy absorber held between the metal members and integrated with the metal members, is installed to be bridged among an upper framework of a wall framework, a floor framework, and a lower framework of a wall framework or among a framework, the floor framework, and the groundsill of a building or a construction built by the two-by-four method.

A reinforcing member according to the present invention is constituted by a structure including an attaching metal member to a post structural member of a building and a construction and a structural member, for example, a horizontal member such as a beam and girder or a groundsill connected to the post structural member, an energy absorber, and a surface metal member, the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrally joined to these metal members.

In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, the energy absorber held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member absorbs energy (deformation energy) such as a tensile shearing force or stretching force (composite force generated by tension/compression and shearing) externally acting on the structural member, damps the energy, and suppresses deformation of the structural member to make it possible to achieve a reinforced structure excellent in vibration-proofing property and earthquake resistance. Furthermore, in the reinforcing member according to the present invention, the metal member constituting the reinforcing member can further improve reinforcing effect.

The reinforcing member according to the present invention can be attached to an exterior wall or an interior wall of a building and a construction to be bridged between a post structural member and a joint portion between the post structural member and a structural member connected to the post structural member such as a beam, a girder, or a groundsill. Accordingly, an energy absorbed amount serving as a reinforced structure of a spring strength of each post member is added as a bearing force depending on a bending strength of the post structural member to achieve a reinforcing effect. Since the reinforcing member according to the present invention can be attached to an exterior wall or an interior wall of the building and the constructions on a joint portion between the post structural member and another structural member such as a beam or a groundsill or on the post structural member, a post member located between windows can be reinforced.

The reinforcing member according to the present invention is attached to respective post structural member and the other structural members connected to the post structural members to make it possible to achieve reinforcement. With this configuration, the reinforcing member can be applied to not only reinforcement for a new building but also temporary reinforcement when the building is tilted or distorted due to, for example, an earthquake.

The reinforcing member in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape) is constituted such that, at a joint portion between a post member and another structural member such as a beam or a groundsill, a plate-like L-shaped angle is arranged on a fixing portion to the structural member and fixed to the structural member to obtain a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing effect by the reinforcing member is more improved by improving reinforcement against tearing of the reinforcing member fixing portion caused by external stress.

A locking claw is formed on the fixing portion to the structural member on the surface structural member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention, and the locking claw is put in the structural member under construction to be used, thereby improving a bearing force of the joint portion between the beam or the groundsill and the post structural member against drawing. In addition, when the reinforcing member according to the present invention is attached to the joint portion between the post structural member and the another structural member such as a beam or a groundsill, a plate-like auxiliary member having a shape (will be described below) is used to make it possible to improve a bearing force of the joint portion between the groundsill and the post structural member against drawing.

Since the reinforcing member is constituted such that an energy absorber such as high-damping rubber is held between the metal members such as the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrated with the metal members, an effect of damping external stress is high. In the reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member is arranged to be bridged between a post structural member of a building or a construction and a joint portion between the post structural member and the another structural member such as a beam or a groundsill, a damping effect of 30 to 40% of a tensile shearing force acting on the reinforcing member can be obtained in comparison with a structure in which the reinforcing member is not used. In addition, a damping effect of 40 to 50% can be obtained in deformation of a stress acceleration caused by earthquake or the like.

In the present invention, the post structural member also called a “post member”, and another structural member connected to the post structural member may be called a “structural member such as a beam and girder or a groundsill”. These members may be generally called “structural members”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 10 illustrate reinforcing members according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting a reinforcing member according to the present invention has a U-shaped section, and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type.

FIG. 2 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention is planar, and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type.

FIG. 3 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention is U-shaped, and a surface metal member is of an L-shaped type.

FIG. 4 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention is planar, and a surface metal member is of a crucial type.

FIG. 5 shows an aspect in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention has a vertical section of an L-shaped type (forked chevron shape).

FIG. 6 shows an aspect in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), and an attaching metal member is planar.

FIG. 7 shows a reinforcing member having a configuration in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention is a divided-I-shaped type (strip-shaped), and an attaching metal member is divided into a plurality of parts.

FIG. 8 shows a reinforcing member having a configuration in which a plurality of locking claws are formed on a surface metal member of a T-shaped type constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a reinforcing member having a configuration in which a plurality of locking claws are formed on a surface metal member of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape) constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an outline of a configuration of an aspect in which a projection is formed at one edge portion of an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention, and an opening into which the projection is inserted is formed in a surface metal member.

FIG. 11 shows an auxiliary metal member used when a reinforced structure is formed by using the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIGS. 12 to 19 show examples of embodiments of a reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which an attaching metal member constituting a reinforcing member is planar, and the reinforcing member having a surface metal member of a T-shaped type is bridged between a post structural member and a beam to achieve reinforcement.

FIG. 13 shows an example of an embodiment in which an attaching metal member constituting a reinforcing member has a U-shaped section, and the reinforcing member having a surface metal member of a T-shaped type is bridged between a post structural member and a beam to achieve reinforcement.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an embodiment in which an attaching metal member constituting a reinforcing member has a U-shaped section, and the reinforcing member having a surface metal member of an L-shaped type is bridged between a post structural member and a beam to achieve reinforcement.

FIG. 15 shows an example of another embodiment in which an attaching metal member constituting a reinforcing member has a U-shaped section, and the reinforcing member having a surface metal member with an L-shaped section is bridged between a post structural member and a beam to achieve reinforcement.

FIG. 16 shows an example of an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which a surface metal member of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape) is used as the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member and bridged between a groundsill and a post structural member to achieve reinforcement.

FIG. 17 shows an example of an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member is reinforced by integrating a post structural member, a groundsill, and a base by using a plate-like auxiliary metal member according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an example of an embodiment in which, in a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member having a surface metal member of a T-shaped type is arranged on a post and a groundsill by using an auxiliary metal member having a Z-shaped section according to the present invention to achieve reinforcement, one side of the Z-shaped section is inserted between the groundsill and the base, and the other side is located on an upper surface portion of a latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member.

FIG. 19 shows an external view (partial view) of a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member according to the present invention is arranged to be bridged among an upper framework of a wall framework, a floor framework, and a lower framework in the two-by-four method.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining an effect of suppressing deformation occurring when a tensile shearing force or tensile force acts on the post structural member in the reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view for explaining an effect of suppressing deformation occurring when a tensile shearing force or tensile force in another embodiment in the reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention acts.

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining an effect of suppressing deformation when stress acts in the reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A reinforcing member according to the present invention will be concretely described.

As an example of the reinforcing member according to the present invention, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an outline of the configuration. FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining the reinforcing member according to the present invention. A surface metal member of a T-shaped type constituting a reinforcing member I is cited as an example. FIG. 10(1) shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member is a planar metal member, and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type.

FIGS. 10(2) and 10(3) show an aspect in which an attaching metal member is a metal member in which a shape (to be simply referred to as a sectional shape hereinafter) of a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the attaching metal member is a U shape, and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type. FIG. 10(3) shows an aspect, in the aspect shown in FIG. 10(2), a projection pin is formed near one edge portion of the attaching metal member, and a penetrating opening into which the projection pin is inserted is formed near the edge portion of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped type of the surface metal member.

In the aspect shown in FIG. 10(3), by using a nail, a screw nail, or a bolt, etc. in place of the projection pin on the attaching metal member, the metal member can be installed on the structural member to be integrated with the attaching metal member through the opening of the surface metal member.

In this case, reference numerals 1 and 11 denote attaching metal members, respectively. Reference numeral 1 denotes a metal member having a U-shaped section; 11 denotes a planar metal member; 2 denotes a surface metal member; 3 denotes an energy absorber; 5 denotes a projection pin arranged on the attaching metal member; and 6 denotes a penetrating opening formed in the surface metal member. The projection pin can be similarly formed even though the attaching metal member is a planar metal member.

The reinforcing member I according to the present invention includes the attaching metal member 1 or 11, the energy absorber 3, and the surface metal member 2 having a fixing portion to the structural member. The energy absorber 3 is held between the attaching metal member 1 or 11 and the surface metal member 2, joined to, and integrated with these metal members. A portion of the reinforcing member according to the present invention in which the attaching metal member 1 or 11 and the energy absorber 3 are not arranged and which is mainly constituted by the surface metal member 2 can form a fixing portion of the reinforcing member I to a post member or another structural member connected to the post member. The fixing portion between the reinforcing member I and the structural member can be formed on the latitudinal portion or the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion when the surface metal member is of, for example, a T-shaped type. When the surface metal member is of an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), the fixing portion can be formed on an end portion of the I-shaped surface metal member. When the surface metal member is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), the fixing portion can be formed on a convex portion or a forked portion (may be called a leg portion) of the V-shaped portion. The configuration is not limited to the description. That is, the fixing portion between the reinforcing member and the structural member can be formed at a proper portion desired as a portion for the fixing portion between the reinforcing member and the structural member.

The attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention may be divided into a plurality of parts and need not be divided. However, the attaching metal member and the surface metal member are preferably divided into a plurality of parts. When the attaching metal member and the surface metal member are divided, one of the divided attaching metal members is arranged such that two divided surface metal members are connected to each other. The energy absorber is arranged between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member without being divided and joined to these metal members to be integrated with the metal members. In the reinforcing member having the above configuration, a fixing portion can be formed on one end portion of the surface metal member.

When the reinforcing member according to the present invention is installed on the structural member, as needed, a spacer can be formed between the structural member and the fixing portion of the reinforcing member and the surface metal member. However, the spacer may be arbitrarily arranged under construction, or may be provided to the surface metal member in advance. The surface metal member may be directly attached to the structural member without a spacer arranged on the fixing portion to the structural member. When the surface metal member is directly attached to the structural member an attaching portion (fixing portion) to the structural member is formed to constitute the same plane as that of a bottom surface (side attached to the structural member) of the attaching metal member. The surface structural member can also be fixed to the structural member by using an auxiliary metal member (1) shown in FIG. 11.

In the present invention, a plurality of locking claws 22 can be formed at a portion where the fixing portion of the surface metal member to the structural member on the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example. The locking claws are bent in advance, or the locking claws are bent under construction and put in a beam or a groundsill serving as another structural member connected to a post member to further strengthen fixing of the reinforcing member to the structural member, so that strength of the post member against drawing can be further heightened. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent cracking caused by putting a large number of nails in the beam or the groundsill.

When the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member has a U-shaped section, for example, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the U-shaped portion can be fitted in a side portion of the post member 12 and fixed to a side surface portion of the post member. When the metal member having a U-shaped section is used as the attaching metal member, the attaching metal member can be strongly attached to the post member and can achieve a function of reinforcing the post member. The metal member can obtain a reinforcing effect higher than that of a planar metal member.

In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, a projection pin 5 is formed near one edge portion of the attaching metal member 1 or 11, a penetrating opening 6 is formed in a portion corresponding to the surface metal member 2, and the projection pin is inserted into the opening. When this structure is used, or when the surface metal member is integrated with the attaching metal member by a nail, a screw nail, or a bolt, etc. through the opening of the surface metal member in place of a projection pin formed on the attaching metal, an amount of deformation of the energy absorber 3 such as high-damping rubber in the reinforcing member I is suppressed when a tensile shearing force and stretching force act to advantageously prevent the surface metal member 2 from being separated from the attaching metal member 1 or 11.

The attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member I are divided into a plurality of parts, and one of the attaching metal members is arranged to connect the two surface metal members. In this case, a penetrating opening is formed near the other end portion facing the fixing portion of the surface metal member, and a projection pin may be formed at a portion corresponding to the opening on the attaching metal member arranged to connect the surface metal members to each other so that the projection pin is inserted into the surface metal members. The surface metal member can also be integrated with the attaching metal member by a nail, a screw nail or a bolt, etc. through the opening of the surface metal member. In this case, as in the above description, an amount of deformation of the energy absorber such as a high-damping rubber is suppressed to advantageously prevent the surface metal member from being separated from the attaching metal member.

The opening formed in the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member may have a size which ranges to enable an amount of deformation of the energy absorber to be suppressed. As the opening, a gap to limiting the amount of deformation with respect to a diameter of a projection pin, a nail, a screw nail, a bolt, or the like. Depending on the gap may be circular or elliptical. Depending on the size of the surface metal, the diameter of the projection pin, and the diameter of the nail, the screw nail, or the bolt, etc., a size of about 2 to 10 cm is employed as a gap between the diameter of the projection pin, the nail, the screw nail, or the bolt and the opening.

Examples of the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention include a surface metal member of a T-shaped type, an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), an L-shaped, a crucial type, a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), or a surface metal member having an L-shaped section. An aspect in which the surface metal member 2 is of a T-shaped type is one preferential aspect because a fixing portion is stable when the T-shaped latitudinal portion forms the fixing portion to the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill and fixed to the structural member. When the surface metal member 2 is of the L-shaped type, the surface metal member 2 is preferably used as a reinforcing member which reinforces a corner post member. When the surface metal member 2 is of the I-shaped type (strip-shaped) or of the crucial type, the surface metal member 2 can reinforce a joint portion between upper and lower post members through a structural member such as a beam or a girder serving as a horizontal member. When the vertical section is of the L-shaped type, the surface metal member 2 is attached to a corner portion formed by a post member and a structural member such as a beam or a groundsill to make it possible to reinforce the corner portion. A screw hole for fixing an exterior member such as a furring strip or a stiffener can be formed at an arbitrary position of the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention.

A concrete example of the reinforcing member I according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention has a U-shaped section and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type. FIG. 1(1) is a plan view, FIG. 1(2) is a side view, FIG. 1(3) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1(1), FIG. 1(4) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 1(1), and FIG. 1(5) is an external perspective view.

In the aspect in FIG. 1, as shown in FIGS. 1(2), 1(3), and 1(4), an energy absorber 3 is not arranged on the latitudinal portion of the T-shape of the surface metal member 2, and the energy absorber 3 is arranged on the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion and held between the surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 1 to be integrally joined to the attaching metal member 1 and the surface metal member 2. The latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion where the energy absorber 3 is not arranged forms a fixing portion between the reinforcing member and the structural member. The attaching metal member 1 and the energy absorber 3 are arranged with a desired gap which can buffer deformation of the post member caused by the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member. In this aspect, the reinforcing member I is fixed to the post member such that the reinforcing member I is fixed to a side surface portion of the post member at the U-shaped portion of the attaching metal member 1 by a fixing part such as a screw nail or a nail.

A spacer 4 can be arranged on a rear surface of the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion which forms the fixing portion between the reinforcing member I and the structural member and on which the attaching metal member and the energy absorber are not arranged. The spacer 4 is a packing member which is arranged between the surface metal member 2 of the reinforcing member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill to keep the levels of the surface metal member and the post member horizontal. As the spacer 4, a spacer consisting of an arbitrary material is used. The spacer 4 made of the same material of the energy absorber may be used. The surface metal member can also be attached to the structural member without arranging the spacer.

FIG. 2 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I is planar. FIG. 2(1) is a plan view, FIG. 2(2) is a side view, FIG. 2(3) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2(1), FIG. 2(4) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 2(1), and FIG. 2(5) is an external perspective view. In the aspect in FIG. 2, the width of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I is smaller than the width of the attaching metal member 11, and an attaching portion to the post member is formed on the attaching metal member 11. The reinforcing member in this aspect is fixed to the post member at an attaching portion of the attaching metal member 11 wider than the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 by a fixing part such as a screw nail or a nail. Also in this aspect, as in the aspect in FIG. 1, a spacer 4 can be formed on a rear surface of the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member which forms a fixing portion between the reinforcing member I and the structural member. Although not shown, the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 may be made longer than the attaching metal member 11 to form a fixing portion to the structural member.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a planar attaching metal member can be arranged on a portion corresponding to the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion, and an energy absorber is held between the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion and the planar attaching metal member and integrally joined to the attaching metal member and the surface metal member. The longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion can be designed to be divided.

FIG. 3 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I has a U-shaped section and a surface metal member is of an L-shaped type. FIG. 3(1) is a plan view, FIG. 3(2) is a side view, FIG. 3(3) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3(1), FIG. 3(4) is a sectional view taken along the line B-Bin FIG. 3(1), and FIG. 3(5) is an external perspective view.

In the reinforcing member in the aspect, as shown in FIGS. 3(3) and 3(4), the energy absorber 3 is arranged between the longitudinal portion of the L-shaped surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 1, held there between, and integrally joined to thereto. In FIG. 3, the attaching metal member and the energy absorber are not arranged on the latitudinal portion of the L-shaped portion which forms the fixing portion between the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill. As needed, as in the surface metal member 2 of the T-shaped type, the spacer 4 can also be arranged. As in the aspect shown in FIG. 3, as in the reinforcing members shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a planar attaching metal member is arranged on the latitudinal portion of the L-shaped type of the surface metal member, and the energy absorber is held between the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped type and the planar attaching metal member and integrally attached thereto. The reinforcing member in the aspect in FIG. 3 is preferably applied to a corner post member. In the above description, the attaching metal member 1 may be constituted by a planar metal member. An end portion of the surface metal member 2 can be made longer than an attaching metal member to form a fixing portion to the structural member.

FIG. 4 shows an aspect in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention is planar, and a surface metal member is a metal member of a crucial type. FIG. 4(1) is a plan view, FIG. 4(2) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4(1), FIG. 4(3) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 4(1), and FIG. 4(4) is an external perspective view.

In the aspect, as shown in FIGS. 4(3) and 4(4), the energy absorber 3 is arranged on the longitudinal portion of the crucial type surface metal member 2, held between the surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 11, and integrated with the metal members. On the latitudinal portion of the crucial portion constituting the fixing portion between the surface metal member 2 and the structural member (beam), as in the other aspects, the attaching metal member and the energy absorber are not arranged, and the spacer 4 is arranged. The energy absorber can also be arranged on the latitudinal portion of the crucial portion, held between the surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 11, and integrated with the metal members. The longitudinal portion of the crucial portion may be made longer than the attaching metal member 1 and bent to form an attaching portion to the structural member, so that the surface metal member 2 is attached to the structural member. The planar attaching metal member is wider than the surface metal member, and an attaching portion to the structural member such as a post member is formed. In the above description, as the attaching metal member 11, a metal member having a U-shaped section can also be used.

FIG. 5 shows an aspect in which the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention is a metal member having an L-shaped vertical section. FIG. 5(1) is an external perspective view showing a case in which the attaching metal member 1 to the post member is a metal member having a U-shaped section, and FIG. 5(2) is an external perspective view showing a case in which the attaching metal member 11 to the post member is a planar metal member. Also in the reinforcing member according to the aspect, the energy absorber 3 is not arranged on the attaching fixing portion between the surface metal member 2 and the structural member (beam), and the surface metal member 2 is directly attached and fixed to the beam or the groundsill. Also in the reinforcing member having this shape, the end portion of the surface metal member 2 is made longer than the attaching metal member to make it possible to the fixing portion to the structural member. The reinforcing member in the aspect is preferably used to reinforce a corner portion formed between the post member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill.

FIG. 6 shows an aspect in which the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention, and the attaching metal member 11 is a planar metal member. FIG. 6(1) is a plan view, and FIG. 6(2) is an external perspective view. In the reinforcing member in the aspect shown in FIG. 6, the attaching metal member 11 is arranged on the an chevron shape side (lower direction in FIG. 6(1)) having a convex portion of an approximate intermediate part of the V-shaped surface metal member 2 to constitute an attaching portion to the post member. A forked portion (V-shaped leg portion) of the V-shaped portion of the V-shaped surface metal member 2 shown in FIG. 6(1) constitutes a fixing portion to the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill. The energy absorber 3 is held between the surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 11 constituting the attaching portion to the post member, joined to the planar attaching metal member 11, and integrated with the metal members.

FIG. 7 shows one of aspects in which a surface metal member and an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I are divided into a plurality of parts. In the aspect, the surface metal member 2 is constituted by two divided I-shaped (strip-shaped) portions, and an attaching metal member 111 is divided into a plurality of parts. One of the divided attaching metal members 111 is arranged to connect the two surface metal members 2, and the energy absorber 3 is continuously arranged and held between the surface metal member 2 and the attaching metal member 111 and integrated with the metal members. FIG. 7(1) is a plan view, and FIG. 7(2) is a vertical sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 7(1). Fixing portions 23 to the structural member (post member) are formed on end portions where energy absorber and attaching metal members are not present on the two divided surface metal members 2. Each of the divided planar attaching metal members 111 is wider than the width of the surface metal members. An attaching portion to the post member of each of the attaching metal members is formed on the attaching metal member 111. In the aspect, the attaching metal members 111 are fixed to the post member at the end portions where the energy absorbers on the divided surface metal members 2, and energy (deformation energy) is absorbed and damped by an operation of the energy absorber with respect to a lateral force acting on the post member to suppress deformation of the structural member. One of the surface metal members constituting the reinforcing member can be used to be bridged between the surface metal member and the groundsill to reinforce the joint portion between the post member and the groundsill.

FIG. 8 shows a structure in which, in a reinforcing member having the surface metal member 2 of a T-shaped type, a plurality of locking claws 22 are arranged on the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2, and right and left overhang portions (stoppers) 21 are formed in parallel to the lateral portion at a position corresponding to a position near a joint portion between the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill. FIG. 8(1) is a plan view, FIG. 8(2) is a side view, FIG. 8(3) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 8(1), FIG. 8(4) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8(1), and FIG. 8(5) is an external perspective view.

In the reinforcing member in FIG. 8, the locking claws 22 are bent at a portion indicated by a broken line in FIG. 8(5) to be directly attached to a structural member. In actual construction, the plurality of locking claws 22 are bent and put in the beam or the groundsill, and a bolt, a screw nail, or the like is arranged on a joint portion side between the post member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill to be in contact with the overhang portions 21 and to have a level almost equal to the overhang portions. The bolt or the screw nail arranged on the joint portion side between the post member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill to be in contact with the overhang portions 21 functions as a stopper against drawing at the joint portion between the post member and structural member such as a beam or a groundsill to make it possible to assist a reinforcing effect of the post member against drawing.

In FIG. 8, the following aspects are employed. That is, the plurality of locking claws 22 are formed on the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion forming the fixing portion between the surface metal member and the structural member such as a beam or a grounds ill, and in which the right and left overhang portions (stoppers) 21 are not arranged in parallel to the latitudinal portion at a position near the joint portion between the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill. The right and left overhang portions (stoppers) 21 are formed in parallel to the latitudinal portion at a position near the joint portion between the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill, and the locking claws 22 are not formed on the fixing portion between the surface metal member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill.

In the reinforcing member according to the present invention, when the surface metal member is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), a fixing portion between the surface metal member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill is formed on a convex portion side of the V-shaped portion, in contrast to the reinforcing member shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 shows an aspect in which a plurality of locking claws are formed on the convex portion of the surface metal member of the V-shaped type, and an opening is formed in an approximate intermediate part on a leg portion side forked from the approximate intermediate part of the V-shaped portion.

In the aspect shown in FIG. 9, the planar attaching metal member 11 is arranged on a side on which leg portions forked from the approximately intermediate part of the V-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 are formed, and the energy absorber 3 is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member of the V-shaped type and integrated with the metal members.

FIG. 9(1) is a plan view, FIG. 9(2) is a side view, FIG. 9(3) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 9(1), FIG. 9(4) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 9(1), and FIG. 9(5) is an external perspective view. In this aspect, the planar attaching metal member 11 is attached to a post member, the plurality of locking claws 22 arranged on the convex portion side of the V-shaped portion of the surface metal member are put in the beam or the groundsill under construction to fix the reinforcing member, so that reinforcement against drawing at the joint portion between the post member and the beam or the groundsill can be improved.

An opening 61 formed by connecting one pair of leg portions at an approximate intermediate portion of the leg portions forked from an approximately intermediate portion of the V-shaped portion is arranged, and the a nail, a screw nail, or a bolt is arranged through the opening to integrally fix the attaching metal member and the structural member, so that a reinforcing effect against drawing, of the joint portion between the post member and the beam, the groundsill, or the like can be improved. A control function to distortion stress is aided, and the metal member can be advantageously prevented from being separated from the energy absorber.

By using the reinforcing member according to the present invention, in reinforcement of a structural member itself for a building or a construction and reinforcement between structural members, reinforcing members of various shapes according to the present invention can also be used together. For example, the reinforcing member having the structure shown in FIG. 5 is arranged at a corner portion between structural members, any one of the reinforcing members shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, 7, 8 and 9 can be attached between the post member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill connected to the post member. The reinforcing members of two or more types according to the present invention are used together as described above to make it possible to obtain a reinforced structure which achieves a reinforcing effect to further enhance reinforcement.

The energy absorber 3 constituting the reinforcing member I according to the present invention has a function of absorbing a tensile shearing force and stretching force (composite force obtained by tensile/compression and shearing) acting between structural members by an external force and restoring the structural members to original shapes. From this point of view, as the energy absorber 3, an energy absorber having an equivalent damping factor (Heq) of 10 to 60% and a modulus of transverse elasticity (G) of 0.05 to 2.0 N/mm² is used. An equivalent damping factor (Heq) of less than 10% is not preferable because an amount of energy absorbent is small. When a modulus of transverse elasticity (G) is less than 0.05 N/mm², the absorber is so soft that an amount of energy absorbent is small. When the modulus of transverse elasticity exceeds 2.0 N/mm², the absorber is so rigid that an amount of energy absorbent is small. The energy absorber cannot sufficiently absorb energy generated by a tensile shearing force or stretching force, and sufficient resistance to deformation cannot be obtained, so that a desired object cannot be obtained. From a practical viewpoint, the equivalent damping factor (Heq) is preferably set to 10 to 40%. The modulus of transverse elasticity is preferably set to 0.1 to 1.2 N/mm².

Examples of the energy absorber exhibiting the above characteristics include high-damping rubber or a viscoelastic thermoplastic resin. Of these materials, the high-damping rubber is preferably used. Examples of the viscoelastic thermoplastic resin include a hard urethane resin and a silicon resin.

The thickness of the energy absorber 3 used in the reinforcing member according to the present invention varies depending on, for example, the material and the type of an energy absorber, a material and a type, i.e., a wooden member or a steel-frame member, of a reinforcing member for a building or a construction in which the reinforcing member according to the present invention is structured, or positions where the reinforcing member is structured. The thickness is arbitrarily employed in consideration of the above conditions. When the energy absorber is made of high-damping rubber, the thickness is, in general, 1 to 50 mm, preferably 3 to 30 mm, more specifically 5 to 20 mm. When the thickness of the energy absorber is less than 1 mm, the energy absorber cannot sufficiently absorb deformation energy. When the thickness exceeds 50 mm, on the other hand, the reinforcing member increases in thickness as a whole, and the cost increases. The width of the energy absorber 3 may be equal to the width of the surface metal member and may range from 10 to 100% of the width of the post member. In general, a width of 20 to 100% is employed.

The thicknesses of the attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member according to the present invention vary depending on the materials of the metal members or the materials and the type of structural members for a building or a construction in which the reinforcing member is structured, i.e., depending on whether the building or the construction to be targeted is on a wood-frame base or a steel-frame base, or depending on a position where the reinforcing member is structured. The thicknesses are not uniquely determined. An attaching metal member having a thickness ranging from 1 to 6 mm is used, and an attaching metal member having a thickness ranging from 1.5 to 5 mm is preferably used. As the surface metal member, a surface metal member having a thickness ranging from 2 to 12 mm is used, preferably ranging from 2 to 10 mm, and more preferably ranging from of 1.5 to 5 mm. The thicknesses of the attaching metal member and the surface metal member are desirably equal to each other. However, the thicknesses are not necessarily equal to each other.

In a wooden building, both the metal members each having a thickness of 2 to 3.5 mm are generally used. When the thicknesses of the metal members are small, strength against deformation may be insufficient. When the thickness is large, sufficient strength against deformation of the reinforcing member is obtained, but the total weight of the reinforcing member is large. For example, in a wooden building, a fixing portion may not withstand holding of the post member, the beam, the groundsill, or the like to the structural member. The entire cost increases.

As the materials of the metal members, a steel plate or stainless steel is used. The attaching metal member and the surface metal members may be made of the same material or different materials. In particular, the surface metal member is preferably made of spring steel.

The width of the attaching metal member varies depending on the shape of the attaching metal member and a position where the attaching metal member is attached to the structural member. However, the width of the attaching metal member attached to the post member is 50 to 100% of the width of the post member. When the surface metal member is of a T-shaped type, a crucial type, an L-shaped type, or an I-shaped (strip-shaped) or has an L-shaped section, the width of the attaching metal member ranges from 20 to 100% of the width of the metal member attached to the post member. When the surface metal member is of a V-shaped, a planar metal member is mainly used, and the surface metal member is employed that has a large width and including an approximately intermediate part of the V-shaped type as shown in FIG. 6 to the entire convex portion side. A planar metal, member having a shape corresponding to the V-shaped type may be used as a matter of course. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the planar attaching metal member can also be arranged from the approximately intermediate part of the V-shaped type to a side on which one pair of leg portions are formed.

When the surface metal member bridged between the post member and another structural member connected to the post member in the reinforcing member I according to the present invention is a metal member of a T-shaped type, a crucial type, or an L-shaped type or has an L-shaped section, the length of a portion (latitudinal portion) corresponding to the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill in the metal members may range from 10 to 100 cm as a length of at least one side overhung from the longitudinal portion. In general, the length generally ranges from 10 cm to 80 cm, preferably 20 to 50 cm. In addition, the length of a portion (longitudinal portion) corresponding to the post member of the surface metal member is not limited to a specific value. However, in general, a length from a portion corresponding to the joint portion between the post member and the structural member such as a beam or a groundsill may be about 20 to 100 cm, preferably, about 30 to 80 cm.

In order to hold the energy absorber arranged between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member in the reinforcing member according to the present invention is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrally join the energy absorber to the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, for example, blast polishing is performed to surfaces of the attaching metal member and the surface metal member to be joined to the energy absorber to improve adhesive properties. An adhesive agent such as an epoxy-based adhesive agent, a rubber-based adhesive agent, or a phenol resin/rubber-based adhesive agent is applied to the joint surfaces of both the metal members joined to the energy absorber, and both the metal members are heated under pressure while holding the energy absorber and vulcanized to make it possible to obtain a reinforcing member according to the present invention in which the attaching metal member, the surface metal member, and the energy absorber are integrally and strongly joined to each other.

A reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention will be described below by using a reinforced structure applied to a wooden building as an example.

FIG. 11 shows an auxiliary metal member used when a reinforced structure is formed by using the reinforcing member according to the present invention. FIG. 11(1) is a side view of an auxiliary metal member 50 having a bent plate-like metal member, and FIG. 11(2) is a perspective view. Reference numeral 501 denotes a fixing hole, and reference numeral 502 denotes a connection hole to the surface metal member. FIG. 11(3) is a side view of an auxiliary metal member 60 having a Z-shaped vertical section, and FIG. 11(4) is a perspective view. Reference numerals 601 and 602 denote hook-like portions of the auxiliary metal member 60 having the Z-shaped vertical section, and reference numeral 603 denotes a fixing hole. As the auxiliary metal member, generally, a steel plate or a stainless steel having a thickness ranging from 1 to 6 mm, preferably 1.5 to 5 mm, is used.

FIGS. 12 to 17 show concrete examples of embodiments of a reinforced structure using the reinforcing member I according to the present invention.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show aspects in which the reinforcing member I is arranged to be bridged between a post member and a structural member (beam) connected to the post member. FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member I, in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member I is a metal member of a T-shaped type and an attaching metal member is planar, is applied to a joint portion between a post member 12 and a beam 13. FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member I, in which an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member I is a metal member of a U-shaped type and a surface metal member is planar, is applied to a joint portion between a post member 12 and a beam 13.

FIG. 12(1) is an external perspective view using the reinforcing member I in which the attaching metal member to the structural member of the reinforcing member I is a planar metal member 11, and the surface metal member is a metal member 2 of a T-shaped type. FIG. 12 is an external perspective view showing an example of a reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member I, in which a projection pin 5 is formed near a lower end portion of the attaching metal member 11, a penetrating opening 6 is formed in a portion corresponding to the projection pin 5 near an end portion of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2, and the projection pin 5 is inserted into the opening 6, is applied to a joint portion between the post member 12 and the beam 13.

FIG. 12(2) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12(1), and FIG. 12(3) is an enlarged view of a part indicated by a circle X in FIG. 12(2).

The latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 serving as the fixing portion between the surface metal member 2 and the structural member (beam) 13 constituting the reinforcing member I is fixed to the beam 13 through a spacer 4 as shown in FIG. 12(2) by a fixing part 9 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like).

When the attaching metal member 11 to the post member 12 is planar, the attaching metal member 11 to the post member 12 in the reinforcing member I according to the present invention is attached and fixed to the post member 12 by a fixing part 8 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like) as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13(1) is an external perspective view using the reinforcing member I in which an attaching metal member to a structural member is a metal member 1 having a U-shaped section, and a surface metal member is a surface metal member 2 of a T-shaped type. Also in the reinforcing member in FIG. 13, as in FIG. 12, there is shown an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member I, in which a projection pin 5 is formed near a lower end portion of the attaching metal member 11, a penetrating opening 6 is formed in a portion corresponding to the projection pin 5 near an end portion of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2, and the projection pin 5 is inserted into the opening 6, is applied to a joint portion between the post member 12 and the beam 13. FIG. 13(2) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 13(1). As shown in FIG. 13(2), the U-shaped portion of the attaching metal member I constituting the reinforcing member is fitted in the post member 12 and fixed to the post member by the fixing part 8 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like). As in FIG. 12, the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 serving as the fixing portion between the surface metal member 2 and the structural member (beam) 13 constituting the reinforcing member I is fixed to the beam 13 by the fixing part 9 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like).

FIGS. 14 and 15 show embodiments of a reinforced structure using a reinforcing member in which the attaching metal member 1 constituting the reinforcing member I is a metal member having a U-shaped section. FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of the embodiment in which a surface metal member is the metal member 2 of an L-shaped type and is applied to a corner post member and bridged between the post member 12 and the beam 13. FIG. 15 is an external perspective view showing the embodiment in which the metal member 2 having an L-shaped section is applied to a corner portion formed by a beam and a post member. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the U-shaped portion of the attaching metal member 1 to the structural member is fitted in the post member 12 and fixed to the post member by the fixing part 8 (for example, a screw or a nail). In FIG. 14, the latitudinal portion of the L-shaped portion constituting the reinforcing member I is fixed to the beam 13 by the fixing part 9 (for example, a screw or a nail). In FIG. 15, the fixing part to the beam is not shown.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which the reinforcing member I, in which the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member I shown in FIG. 6 is the surface metal member 2 of a V-shaped type, is arranged to be bridged to the joint portion between the post member 12 and a groundsill 14. FIG. 16(1) is a front view, FIG. 16(2) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 16(1), FIG. 16(3) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 16(1), and FIG. 16(14) is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 16(1).

As shown in FIGS. 16(1), 16(2), 16(3), and 16(4), the planar attaching metal member 11 constituting the reinforcing member I is fixed to the surface of the post member 12 by the fixing part 8 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like). As shown in FIGS. 16(1), 16(2), and 16(4), one pair of leg portions forked in the V-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 is bridged over the groundsill 14, and the spacer 4 and a plate-like L angle 40 are arranged at a corner portion corresponding to the joint portion between the post member and the groundsill such that an inner angle side of the L angle is in contact with the corner portion of the groundsill 14. The spacer 4 and the L angle 40 are fixed to the groundsill 14 by the fixing part 9 (for example, a screw, a nail, or the like) together with the leg portions of the surface metal member 2.

As the plate-like L angle 40, an angle having a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 10 mm is used. An angle having a width equal to or slightly larger than the width of the post member is used. The reinforced structure shown in FIG. 16 improves reinforcement of the reinforcing member fixing portion against tearing to make it possible to further improve the reinforcing capability.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which the plate-like L angle is applied to a joint portion between the groundsill and the post member. The L angle may also be applied to the joint portion between the beam and the post member.

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member obtained by dividing an attaching metal member and a surface metal member into a plurality of parts is applied to be bridged to a joint portion between a post member and a groundsill. FIG. 17(1) is a front view, FIG. 17(2) is a side view, and FIG. 17(3) is an enlarged view showing a part indicated by a circle X in FIG. 17(2).

In the reinforced structure shown in FIG. 17, a reinforcing member is arranged such that the attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member are divided into at least two or more parts. One of the divided attaching metal members 111 is attached to the post member 12 while the other is attached to the groundsill 14 serving as another structural member connected to the post member, and one of the divided surface metal members 2 constituting the reinforcing member is bridged to the joint portion between the post member 12 and the groundsill 14 serving as another structural member connected to the post member. The bent plate-like auxiliary metal member 50 shown in FIG. 11 is arranged between the groundsill 14 and a base 15, one side of the plate-like auxiliary metal member 50 is fixed to the base 15, and the other side is connected to the surface metal member 2 to constitute a reinforced structure. A joint portion 24 between the surface metal member 2 and the bent plate-like auxiliary metal member 50 is connected by bolt and nut 7. A fixing portion between the base and the auxiliary metal member 50 is fixed by an anchor bolt or the like.

FIG. 18 shows another aspect using a reinforcing member in which the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member is of T-shaped type. FIG. 18(1) is a front view, FIG. 18(2) is a side view, and FIG. 18(3) is an enlarged view showing a part indicated by a circle X in FIG. 18(2).

In the reinforced structure, the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 is arranged on the groundsill 14 serving as another structural member connected to the post member 12, and the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion is bridged between the post member 12 and the groundsill 14 to arrange the reinforcing member. In the reinforced structure, the auxiliary metal member 60 having a Z-shaped vertical section shown in FIG. 11 is used to insert one hook-like portion 602 of the metal member 60 having the Z-shaped vertical section between the groundsill 14 and the base 15. Consequently, the other portion 601 is arranged to be located at a portion corresponding to the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member 2 of the reinforcing member on the upper surface side of the groundsill 14, installed on the groundsill 14, and stacked on the reinforcing member to constitute a reinforced structure.

In the reinforced structure shown in FIG. 17, the base and the groundsill are connected to each other by using the auxiliary metal member, and the auxiliary metal member and the reinforcing member are connected to each other, or the hook-like portion of the Z-shaped portion is arranged at the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion attached to the groundsill in FIG. 18. For this reason, when an external force acts on the reinforced structure, sufficient resistance to drawing and tearing of the post member from the groundsill portion can be exerted. A reinforcing effect excellent in earthquake resistance and vibration-proofing property can be obtained.

FIG. 19 shows an aspect in which a reinforcing member is applied to a wall framework of a building or a construction built by the two-by-four method. FIG. 19 is an external perspective view (partial view) showing an example of a reinforced structure in which a reinforcing member I, in which a surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is an I-shaped type (strip-type) and an attaching metal member is planar, is arranged to be bridged among an upper framework 30 of the wall framework, a floor framework 32, and a lower framework 31. FIG. 19(1) is a front view of the reinforcing member I, and FIG. 19(2) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 19(1). In the reinforced structure, the reinforcing member is formed by dividing the attaching metal member 111 and the surface metal member 2 constituting the reinforcing member I into a plurality of parts. The attaching metal member 111 is attached to the upper framework 30, the floor framework 32, and the lower framework 31. One of the divided surface metal members 2 is bridged the lower portion of the upper framework 30 and the lower framework 31 to connect the lower portion and the lower framework 31. The other is arranged to be bridged between the floor framework 32 and the upper portion of the lower framework 31 to connect the floor framework 32 and the lower framework 31 and fixed to the upper framework and the lower framework at the fixing portion 23 of the surface metal member. In FIG. 19, when the reinforcing member is attached to the framework, the attaching metal member is arranged at a position where a frame member constituting the framework is present. The fixing portions of the attaching metal member and the surface metal member are fixed such that fixing parts such as nails or screws reach the frame members denoted by 301 and 310 in FIG. 19. The reinforced structure in FIG. 19 has an excellent reinforcing effect which can exert resistance to drawing, horizontal movement, and the like between the upper framework or the lower framework and the floor framework when an external force acts on a building or a construction built by the two-by-four method. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 19, the reinforcing member I can also be arranged to be bridged between the lower framework, the floor framework, and the groundsill. The reinforcing member I can also be arranged to be bridged to a corner portion. In this case, the “framework” is something to constitute a wall framework in the two-by-four construction, and is constituted by a configuration obtained by installing a bearing chipboard on a frame member.

When the framework member is to be reinforced, the divided attaching metal members constituting the reinforcing member are designed to be connected to an upper frame member, a floor frame member, and a groundsill or the upper frame member, the floor frame member, and a lower frame member, respectively. One of the divided surface metal members is arranged to be bridged among the upper frame member, the floor frame member, and the lower frame member to connect the frame members and connected to the upper frame member and the lower frame member at the fixing portion of the other of the divided surface metal members. One of the divided surface metal members is arranged to be bridged among a vertical frame member, the floor frame member, and the groundsill, or one of the divided surface metal members is bridged between the upper vertical frame member and the floor frame member to connect the frame members and fixed to the vertical frame member and the groundsill at the fixing portion of the other of the divided surface metal members.

A reinforced structure using the reinforcing member according to the present invention will be described below with reference to explanatory views in FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 with reference to a reinforced structure using a reinforcing member in which an attaching metal member is planar and a surface metal member is of a T-shaped type, in a state in which deformation energy is absorbed, damped, and restored to an original state when a tensile shearing force or stretching force acts on the reinforcing member according to the present invention.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show an aspect in which a reinforcing member constituted by a surface metal member, an energy absorber, and an attaching metal member according to the present invention is bridged between a joint portion of a beam and a post member and a joint portion of a groundsill and the post member. In this example, the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is attached and fixed to the post member, and the surface metal member is fixed to the beam or the groundsill by a portion (latitudinal portion of a T-shaped portion of the surface metal member in FIGS. 20 and 21) constituting a fixing portion between the reinforcing member and the beam and the groundsill serving as the structural member connected to the post structural member.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view for explaining a state of the reinforcing member when an external force acts on the structural member, and shows the state by the sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG. 20. FIG. 22(1) shows a state obtained before deformation, and FIG. 22(2) shows a state obtained when deformation is caused by a force (P) acting in a direction of an arrow.

In FIG. 20, when the force (P) acts on the structural member in the direction of the arrow, the post member is deformed as indicated by a broken line while using a joint portion (Z) between the groundsill and the post member as a fulcrum. In this case, the reinforcing member operates in a direction of deformation in accordance with the deformation of the post member. At this time, since the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is attached and fixed to the post member, the reinforcing member operates in the direction of deformation in accordance with the deformation of the post member. On the other hand, in the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member, the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion serving as the fixing portion to the structural member is fixed to the beam or the groundsill and follows the beam in a moving direction (deformation direction) of the beam. The longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion integrated with the energy absorber of the surface metal member follows the post member in a deformation direction of the post member. However, at this time, forces in directions of arrows a and b act on an end portion of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion. On the other hand, in the surface metal member of the reinforcing member bridged between the post member and the groundsill, forces in directions of arrows c and d act on the end portion of the longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion. At this time, in the reinforcing member, as shown in FIG. 22(2), the attaching metal member follows the deformation of the post member, and an acting force (deformation energy) is absorbed and damped by the operation of the energy absorber (for example, a high-damping rubber) held and integrally formed between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member. The surface metal member is suppressed from being deformed (moved) and receives a recovery force to keep an original state, so that a reinforcing effect is exerted.

As another embodiment, FIG. 21 shows a reinforcing member in which an attaching metal member and an energy absorber are arranged on a latitudinal portion of a T-shaped portion of a surface metal member constituting a reinforcing member and integrated with a surface metal member. The reinforcing member is fixed to the surface metal member of the post member by a fixing portion to the structural member formed on a longitudinal end portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member, so that deformation energy can be mainly absorbed and damped by portions corresponding to the beam and the groundsill.

In this case, when a force (P) in a direction of an arrow acts on the structural member in FIG. 21, the post member is deformed as indicated by a broken line while using a joint portion (Z) between the groundsill and the post member as a fulcrum. At this time, since the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is attached and fixed to the post member, the reinforcing member operates in the direction of deformation in accordance with the deformation of the post member. On the other hand, an attaching metal member which holds an energy absorber at a longitudinal portion of a T-shaped portion and integrates the energy absorber is attached and fixed to a beam or a groundsill, and a latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion follows deformation of the beam or the groundsill to operate deformation (movement) in directions indicated by arrows e, f, g, and h. However, at this time, acting deformation energy is absorbed by the operation of the energy absorber, and an operation of damping the energy is obtained to suppress the deformation (movement). A restoring force to keep an original state acts to exert a reinforcing effect.

Although the reinforced structures in a wooden building are described above, the reinforcing member according to the present invention can be used as a reinforcing member for not only a wooden building but also a steel-frame construction. In a steel-frame construction, an attaching metal member and a surface metal member to a structural member constituting a reinforcing member are preferably metal members having thicknesses which are somewhat larger than those of a wooden building and fall within the above ranges. An energy absorber having a larger thickness than that in the wooden building falls within the above range. In a reinforcing member used as a reinforced structure of a steel-frame construction, a plate-like member is used as an attaching metal member to a structural member. The reinforcing member is generally fixed to the structural member by using, for example, bolt and nut. 

1. A reinforcing member for a building and a construction which reinforces a structural member in a building and a construction, wherein the reinforcing member comprises an attaching metal member to the structural member of the building and the construction, a surface metal member having a fixing portion to the structural member, and an energy absorber, which is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, and integrated with these metal members.
 2. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorber is one selected from a high-damping rubber and a viscoelastic thermoplastic resin having an equivalent damping factor (Heq) of 10 to 60% and a modulus of transverse elasticity (G) of 0.05 to 2.0 N/mm².
 3. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion to the structural member is formed in a part of the surface metal member in which the attaching metal member and the energy absorber are not present.
 4. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the attaching metal member in the reinforcing member is planar or has a U-shaped section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction.
 5. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the attaching metal member and the surface metal member in the reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts; one of the divided attaching metal members is arranged to connect two surface metal members, and a continuous energy absorber is held between the surface metal member and the attaching metal member and integrated with the surface metal member and the attaching metal member.
 6. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein a type of the surface metal member in the reinforcing member is selected from a T-shaped type, an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), an L-shaped type, a crucial type, and a V-shaped type, or the surface metal member has an L-shaped vertical section.
 7. The reinforcing member according to claim 1 wherein, in the longitudinal portion of the T-shape of the surface metal member of the T-shaped type in the reinforcing member, right and left overhang portions are formed near the another structural member connected to the post member in parallel to the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped type of the surface metal member of the T-shaped type.
 8. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein, a projection pin is formed near one edge portion of the surface of the attaching metal member to the post, a penetrating opening is formed in the surface metal member near an edge portion corresponding to the projection pin, the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member, and the projection pin is inserted into the opening of the surface metal member and integrated with the surface metal member.
 9. The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of locking claws are formed on a fixing portion to the structural member of the surface metal member.
 10. A reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein the reinforcing member, in which the energy absorber is held between the attaching metal member and the surface metal member and integrated with these metal members, is installed and bridged between the post structural member of the building and the construction and the joint portion of the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member.
 11. The reinforced structure according to claim 10, wherein, in the reinforcing member in which the energy absorber is held between and integrated with the attaching metal member to the structural member and the surface metal member, the attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is fixed to a post structural member and/or another structural member connected to the post structural member, and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is bridged between the post structural member and a joint portion of the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member and fixed to the post structural member or another structural member connected to the post structural member at the fixing portion of the surface metal member.
 12. The reinforced structure according to claim 10, wherein the attaching metal member and the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts, one of the divided attaching metal members is attached to the another structural member connected to the post structural member while the other of the attaching metal members is attached to the post structural member, and one of the divided surface metal portions is bridged between the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member and fixed to the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member at a fixing portion formed on the surface metal member.
 13. The reinforced structure according to claim 10, wherein one of the divided surface metal members is arranged to be bridged between the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member, and fixed to the post structural member or the another structural member connected to the post structural member through an auxiliary member at the fixing portion of the surface metal member.
 14. The reinforced structure according to claim 10, wherein a type of the surface metal member is selected from a T-shaped type, an I-shaped type (strip-shaped), an L-shaped type, a crucial type, and a V-shaped type, or the surface metal member has an L-shaped vertical section, and the attaching metal member is a planar metal member.
 15. The reinforced structure according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing member, in which the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member is T-shaped type and an attaching metal member is planar, is arranged to a joint portion bridged between a post structural member and a beam.
 16. A reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein a surface metal member constituting a reinforcing member is of a V-shaped type (forked chevron shape), an attaching metal member constituting the reinforcing member is fixed to a post structural member, a forked portion of the V-shaped surface metal member forms a fixing portion to another structural member to bridge the fixed portion between the post structural member and the another structural member (beam or groundsill) connected to the post structural member, a spacer is arranged on the fixing portion between the forked portion of the surface metal member and the another structural member, a plate-like L angle (L-shaped metal plate) is arranged at a corner portion on a side facing a joint portion between the post structural member and the another structural member connected to the post structural member, and the spacer and the L angle are fixed to the another structural member connected to the post structural member together with the fixing portion of the surface metal member.
 17. A reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein an attaching metal member and a surface metal member constituting a reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts; one of the divided attaching metal members is attached to a post structural member while the other is attached to another structural member connected to the post structural member, and one of the divided surface metal members constituting the reinforcing member is bridged between the post structural member and a groundsill connected to the post structural member, wherein a bent plate-like auxiliary metal member is arranged between the groundsill and a base, and one side of the auxiliary metal member is fixed to the base while the other side is connected to the fixing portion of the surface metal member constituting the reinforcing member.
 18. A reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein an attaching metal member constituting-a reinforcing member are divided into at least two parts, the reinforcing member having the surface metal member of a T-shaped type, a latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member is arranged on a groundsill connected to a post structural member, and a longitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion is bridged between the post structural member and the groundsill, wherein an auxiliary metal member having a Z-shaped section is used, and one side of the member having the Z-shaped section is inserted between the groundsill and a base while the other side is located at a position contacting with upper edge portion of the latitudinal portion of the T-shaped portion of the surface metal member of the reinforcing member on an upper surface side of the groundsill and installed on the groundsill.
 19. A reinforced structure of a building and a construction, wherein a reinforcing member, in which a surface metal member constituting a reinforcing member is of one of an I-shaped type (strip shape) and a T-shaped type, an attaching metal member has a planar shape, and an energy absorber is held between the metal members and integrated with the metal members, is installed to be bridged among an upper framework of a wall framework, a floor framework, and a lower framework of a building of a wall framework, or among a framework, the floor framework, and the groundsill of a building or a construction built by the two-by-four method. 